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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. mug — to rob
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. rock — music
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. rock — a stone
  9. ground — a position
  10. roll — a cake
  11. bound — certain
  12. mug — a face
  13. bound — obliged
  14. board — to get on
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bound — tied together
  17. ground — crushed
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. chip — to eat
  20. ground — the earth
  21. mug — a cup
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. roll — a list
  24. board — a committee

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com